Base station antennas having radomes that reduce coupling between columns of radiating elements of a multi-column array

Abstract

A base station antenna includes an internal radome and a multi-column antenna array antenna. The internal radome can be configured with a plurality of columns, each having an outwardly projecting peak segment and each neighboring column of the internal radome can be separated by a valley. Each outwardly projecting peak segment(s) is oriented to project toward a front of the base station antenna and is positioned medially aligned over a respective column of the multi-column antenna array to thereby reduce mutual coupling of respective elements and/or columns of elements and/or provide a common near field environment for each element and/or each column.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A base station antenna, comprising:
 a first radome defining a front of the base station antenna;   a second radome behind the front of the base station antenna; and   a multi-column antenna array positioned behind the first and second radomes.   
     
     
         2 . The base station antenna of  claim 1 , wherein the second radome is configured with a plurality of peak segments that are laterally spaced apart, and wherein the peak segments project outwardly toward, and behind, the front of the base station antenna. 
     
     
         3 . The base station antenna of  claim 2 , wherein a respective peak segment of the plurality of peak segments resides in front of and longitudinally and laterally aligned with at least one radiating element of a corresponding column of radiating elements of the multi-column antenna array. 
     
     
         4 . The base station antenna of  claim 2 , wherein each peak segment is separated by a pair of valley segments, one valley segment on a right side and one valley segment on a left side of the peak segment. 
     
     
         5 . The base station antenna of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the peak segments are provided as a respective longitudinally extending peak segment that is positioned over a respective column of the multi-column antenna array to thereby reduce coupling between columns of radiating elements and/or provide a common near field environment for each radiating element and/or each column of radiating elements. 
     
     
         6 . The base station antenna of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-column antenna array comprises radiating elements held by respective stalks, wherein forwardmost radiating arms of the radiating elements residing in front of the respective stalks are positioned at a first distance d 1  from the first radome and a second distance d 2  from the second radome, wherein the first radome is positioned a third distance d 3  from the second radome, and wherein d 2  is less than d 1  and d 3 . 
     
     
         7 . The base station antenna of  claim 1 , wherein the multi-column antenna array comprises radiating elements with radiating arms, wherein the radiating arms are positioned at a half wavelength or less from the second radome, where the wavelength refers to the wavelength corresponding to a center frequency of an operating frequency band of the multi-column array, and wherein the radiating arms are positioned at one wavelength or more from the first radome. 
     
     
         8 . The base station antenna of  claim 2 , wherein a respective peak segment of the plurality of peak segments defines a cavity that is positioned over a respective radiating element of the multi-column antenna array. 
     
     
         9 . The base station antenna of  claim 8 , wherein the cavity has an arcuate shape with the arc curving over the respective radiating element to provide a maximal front facing portion laterally centered over a center of the respective radiating element. 
     
     
         10 . The base station antenna of  claim 9 , wherein the respective peak segment merges into right and left side valley segments that project inwardly toward ends of radiating arms of neighboring radiating elements. 
     
     
         11 . The base station antenna of  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of peak segments are arranged to be in a range of 4 and 16 laterally spaced apart peak segments that extend longitudinally along a length of the second radome. 
     
     
         12 . The base station antenna of  claim 1 , wherein the second radome has opposing right and left sides that extend laterally inwardly and couple to a reflector. 
     
     
         13 . The base station antenna of  claim 1 , wherein the second radome is configured to cooperate with radiating elements of the multi-column array to provide an isolation of at least 19 dB between radiating elements in adjacent columns. 
     
     
         14 . A base station antenna, comprising:
 a reflector;   a multi-column antenna array that extends forwardly from the reflector; and   a radome that is positioned in front of the multi-column array,   wherein the radome includes a plurality of laterally spaced-apart and longitudinally extending peak segments that project forwardly, away from the multi-column array.   
     
     
         15 . The base station antenna of  claim 14 , wherein a respective peak segment of the plurality of peak segments resides in front of and longitudinally and laterally aligned with at least one radiating element of a corresponding column of radiating elements of the multi-column antenna array. 
     
     
         16 . The base station antenna of  claim 14 , wherein each peak segment is separated by a pair of valley segments, one valley segment on a right side and one valley segment on a left side of the peak segment. 
     
     
         17 . The base station antenna of  claim 14 , wherein each peak segment is positioned over a respective one column of the multi-column antenna array to thereby reduce coupling between columns of radiating elements and/or provide a common near field environment for each radiating element and/or each column of radiating elements, and wherein each peak segment is separated by a pair of valley segments, one valley segment on a right side and one valley segment on a left side of the peak segment. 
     
     
         18 . The base station antenna of  claim 14 , wherein a respective peak segment of the plurality of peak segments defines a forwardly projecting cavity that is positioned centrally over a respective radiating element of the multi-column antenna array. 
     
     
         19 . The base station antenna of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of peak segments are arranged to be provided in a range of 4 and 16 laterally spaced apart peak segments, wherein the radome is configured to generate a near-field environment that is substantially the same for each radiating element and/or columns of radiating elements of the multi-column array and/or wherein the radome is configured to cooperate with radiating elements of the multi-column array to provide an isolation of at least 19 dB between radiating elements in adjacent columns. 
     
     
         20 . The base station antenna of  claim 14 , wherein at least some of the longitudinally-extending peak segments have a transverse cross-section that includes sub-segments that are at different front-to-back distances from the reflector.